Honda · 2017–present · track setup

Civic Si 10th

The Si is the budget way into a modern Honda track car: light, with a helical diff, a slick manual and enough power to teach you momentum without punishing mistakes. The 10th gen (2017–2020) came as a coupe or sedan with adaptive dampers; the 11th gen (2022 on) is sedan-only, adds rev-matching, and trades the adaptive dampers for passive suspension. Both run small single-piston brakes and all-season tires from the factory, so pads, fluid and tires come before anything else.
Engine
1.5 L turbocharged inline-four, 6-speed manual, helical limited-slip differential (both generations)
Power
205 hp (10th gen, 2017–2020) / 200 hp (11th gen, 2022–present); 192 lb-ft both
Weight
≈2,889–2,906 lb (10th gen coupe/sedan) / ≈2,952 lb (11th gen sedan)
Layout
Front-engine
Drive
FWD
Performance planner ↓

These are starting points gathered from the sources listed at the bottom, not a guarantee. Cars, tires and parts vary: have a reputable alignment shop set your car, check factory specs for road use, and change one thing at a time.

01On track

Strengths
  • +Light and agile for a modern car; a great momentum-driving teacher
  • +Helical limited-slip diff gives real traction out of tight corners
  • +Cheap consumables compared with the Type R
  • +Responds well to a stiffer rear bar for rotation
Watch out for
  • −Small single-piston brakes with 12.3-inch front rotors need track pads and fluid from day one
  • −Factory all-season tires are not a track tire
  • −Stock intercooler heat-soaks, so power fades across a session
  • −Limited front camber on stock hardware

02Alignment

Where to start the alignment.

Alignment · starting points
VIEWED FROM BEHIND · CAMBER EXAGGERATED ×3-2.8°FRONT L-2.8°FRONT R-2.0°REAR L-2.0°REAR R
FrontRear
Camber≈-2.5° to -3.0°≈-1.5° to -2.5°
Toe0 to 1/16" total out0

Owner-reported: a 2020 Si sedan on lowering springs and aftermarket sway bars with 255/40R18 tires ran -3.0° front, -2.5° rear and zero toe. General FWD owner advice in the same thread was -2.5° to -3° front with 1/16" out and -1.5° to -2° rear. Keep the rear below the front.

Sources [4]

Hot pressure target
34–36 psi hot as a first target on 200TW tires

Tire Rack found most 200TW tires fastest at 34–36 psi hot; its older FWD/AWD competition chart starts at 40–45 front and 30–40 rear. If you are still on stock camber, run toward the higher end. Adjust in 2 psi steps. [6,7,5] Work out your cold pressure →

03Tires & brakes

Tires and brakes

  • 200TW endurance
    • Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ
    • Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
    • Continental ExtremeContact Force
    • Falken Azenis RT660+
    • Yokohama Advan A052
    255/40R18 on 18 x 9.5 (owner-reported track fitment)

    The RE-71RZ is the 2026 successor to the RE-71RS; Tire Rack found it roughly equal overall, slightly calmer at the limit and a little quicker to hydroplane. The RE-71RS was the benchmark of the 2025 200TW testing, with the Falken and Yokohama close behind on lap time in third-party summaries of that data.

    Sources [11,8,14,4]
  • Max-performance summer
    • Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
    • Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    235/40R18 (factory size on 18 x 8 wheels)

    Both generations came on 235/40R18; the factory standard is an all-season. A max-performance summer tire in that size is the minimum for a first track day.

    Sources [1]
  • R-compound / slick
    • Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 / Cup 2 R
    • Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3R
    • Hoosier Track Attack Pro
    • Yokohama Advan A055
    • Hoosier A7
    255/40R18 or the nearest available size on 18 x 9.5

    Streetable track tires and R-compounds: DOT-legal but not for standing water. Tire Rack found R-compounds and Hoosiers happiest around 30–32 psi hot rather than the 34–36 psi most 200TW tires wanted.

    Sources [8,12,13,6,4]
Brake pads

A dedicated track compound in the correct Si fitment, front and rear together (for example an entry track pad in the Hawk DTC-30 class). Si-specific pad fitment was not verified here; check the part number for your generation.

Brake fluid

Motul RBF 600 (312°C dry) or RBF 660 (325–328°C dry depending on the listing), or equivalent high-boiling DOT 4.

The Hawk listing found covers only the Type R, but its guidance applies: do not upgrade only the rear pads, and bed new pads in properly. [1,2,9,10]

04Known issues on track

Fix these before they find you.

  • Brakes are the first limit

    Both generations use 12.3-inch vented front and 11.1-inch solid rear rotors with single-piston calipers. That is a modest package for a car that brakes from high speed every lap, so fit a track pad compound in the correct Si fitment and high-boiling fluid before the first event, and bleed between events. [1,2,9,10]

  • Intercooler heat soak

    On the 11th gen, a cooling vendor found the factory tube-and-fin intercooler (with crimped plastic end tanks) heats up fast on back-to-back runs, and says that in extended track sessions the ECU pulls timing and boost to protect the engine. Expect lap times to fade in long sessions rather than anything breaking. (Vendor data.) [3]

  • Factory all-season tires

    Both generations shipped on 235/40R18 all-season tires as standard (summer tires were optional on the 10th gen and an HPT performance tire was optional on the 11th gen). All-seasons overheat quickly on track; a 200TW tire is the single biggest improvement you can make. [1,2]

  • Front tire shoulders from camber limits

    Owners consistently report being camber-limited on stock hardware; until you can add front camber, run higher hot pressures so the sidewall does not roll and watch the outer shoulders. [5,4]

05Modification roadmap

In the order that pays off.

  1. 0
    Safety & reliability first

    Safety and reliability first

    • Track pads and racing brake fluidSingle-piston brakes are the Si's first limit.
    • Summer or 200TW tiresFactory all-seasons overheat within a few laps.
  2. 1
    Tires & alignment

    Tires and alignment

    • 18 x 9.5 wheels with a 255-section 200TW tireMore contact patch and a far better track compound.
    • Front camber hardwareProtects the front shoulders and adds mid-corner grip.
  3. 2
    Suspension & brakes

    Suspension and balance

    • Stiffer rear sway barThe cheapest way to make a FWD car rotate.
    • Springs or coiloversControls roll so the camber you add stays useful.
  4. 3
    Power & aero

    Power last

    • IntercoolerFixes power fade before adding power.
    • TuneOnly once brakes and heat are handled.

06Performance planner

What each upgrade is worth on this car.

Pick upgrades and see the estimated lap-time change on a reference circuit, how much margin your brakes and engine have late in a session, and which changes buy durability rather than speed.

Performance planner · Civic Si 10th gen (FC/FK) and 11th gen (FE)Model estimate
Tires
Brake pads
Brake fluid
Brake cooling
Brakes
Alignment
Suspension
Differential
Weight
Power
Cooling
Oil system
Aero
1:53.96stock 1:53.96−0.0%

Reference circuit (fictional, 3.5 km). Late lap includes brake fade and heat derating once the system runs out of margin.

T1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8SPEED · your plan vs stock · top 112 mph
Brake fade marginFades
Engine heat marginDerates
Oil starvation riskLow
Tire life (relative)100%
Sensitivity · each upgrade alone vs stock (late lap)
  • R-compound tires−5.24%load ↑
  • 200TW endurance tires−2.36%load ↑
  • Race pads−1.48%durability ↑
  • Big brake kit−1.45%durability ↑
  • Street/track pads−1.32%durability ↑
  • High-temp fluid−0.96%durability ↑
  • Brake cooling ducts−0.96%durability ↑
  • Track alignment−0.75%
  • Coilovers + sway bars−0.62%
  • Splitter + wing−0.55%
  • Oil cooler + radiator−0.45%durability ↑
  • Lighter wheels + seat−0.32%
  • Oil system (baffles / accumulator)±0
  • Limited-slip differential±0load ↑
  • Intake, exhaust, tune±0load ↑
This car’s roadmap below starts with: Track pads and racing brake fluid · Summer or 200TW tires · 18 x 9.5 wheels with a 255-section 200TW tire · Front camber hardware

Estimates from a simplified point-mass lap simulation of Civic Si 10th gen (FC/FK) and 11th gen (FE) (2,890 lb, 205 hp) on a fictional circuit, with generic effects for each upgrade category. Good for comparing options on the same car, not for predicting your lap time. Real results depend on the driver, the exact parts, the track and the conditions. Durability starts lower on this car because of its known issues: heat, brake fade.

Free printable setup sheet →

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Summaries are TRACK’s own wording; follow the links for the original detail. Product and brand names belong to their owners.

  1. [1]2017 Honda Civic Si Press KitHonda (hondanews.com) · accessed 2026-10
  2. [2]2022 Civic Si Specifications & FeaturesHonda (hondanews.com) · accessed 2026-10
  3. [3]Cold Front – Performance Intercooler Kit for the 2022+ Honda Civic SiMishimoto (vendor) · accessed 2026-10
  4. [4]FK8 Track Alignment – owner threadCivicX forum (owner consensus) · accessed 2026-10
  5. [5]Track Alignment Settings? (FL5 Civic Type R, 11th gen Civic platform) – owner threadCivicXI forum (owner consensus) · accessed 2026-10
  6. [6]Confirming optimal track tire pressures: 14 Extreme Performance & Competition tires tested on a BMW M2Tire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  7. [7]What Tire Air Pressure Do I Use For Track And Autocross?Tire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  8. [8]Extreme Performance Summer & Track Tire Test – 2025 Test 4F (200TW and sub-200TW tires)Tire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  9. [9]Hawk DTC-30 Brake Pads (11th Gen Civic)ProCivic · accessed 2026-10
  10. [10]Motul RBF 600 / 660 Racing DOT 4 Brake FluidHybrid Racing · accessed 2026-10
  11. [11]Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ compared to Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS on two sports carsTire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  12. [12]Hoosier Track Attack Pro vs Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3R vs Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ: 2026 streetable track tire testTire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  13. [13]Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 RTire Rack · accessed 2026-10
  14. [14]2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre TestTyre Reviews · accessed 2026-10
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